10 Great Movies That Prove Blockbusters Don't Have To Be Dumb

9. Inception

If there's one individual who has single-handedly succeeded in reinventing the comic book movie adaptation it is Christopher Nolan. With the Dark Knight trilogy he proved that a comic book could be brought to the screen with a perfect blend of visual panache while discussing broader philosophical themes concerning identity and morality. That Christopher Nolan is one of the more cerebral filmmakers working in the mainstream is difficult to dispute, and Inception stands as perhaps his most daring attempt to infuse a big budget event movie with ideas usually found in lower budget, independent cinema. On the surface it is essentially a heist movie, but beyond that it is a layered examination of the nature of the subconscious and dreaming. While Inception doesn't hold a candle to more art house fare which explore similar themes (for instance, Luis Buñuel's Belle de Jour, Satoshi Kon's Paprika and David Lynch's Mulholland Drive) it deserves credit for touching on interesting ideas that are rarely seen in big budget films with mass appeal.